Developing a strong and successful relationship involves several key qualities. One of these qualities is trust.

Trust is important to your career and your company success, but it's not something that you can gain overnight. It's not something you can, as folks say, "fake it till you make it." It takes time and effort. And once it's gained, you can lose it within a split second.

In my tenure as a leadership and executive coach, there are five things that I consistently see great leaders do to earn trust:

1. Be an open and an effective communicator.

Open and effective communication is a key reason for a leader's success. Being an effective communicator is more than just being able to convey a message that is clear; it also means being a good listener, checking for understanding and paying attention to the non-verbal signs. Openness allows the employee to be more engaged in the workplace and it's a great way of deepening your relationship with the employee. It creates loyalty, mutual respect and a positive work environment. Employees want to feel like they are part of the bigger picture.

2. Don't set your employees up to fail.

No employee wants to fail at their jobs or worse yet, know or feel like their leaders are setting them up to fail. As a leader, you must make sure that you set clear expectations and have an open two-way line of communication with your employees. Yes, it's important to hold your employees accountable, but don't let that escalate out of control. Don't let bad situations become an opportunity to use an employee as a scapegoat for your failure. When a mistake happens, own it -- and don't place blame. Remember: Leadership starts with you.

3. Lead by example and demonstrate that you can be trusted.

John Maxwell says, "A leader knows the way, goes the way and shows the way." Nothing speaks more loudly when leaders’ behaviors models their actions. This not only influences your employees’ actions but can also drive employee results. It is also important that you are consistent. Don't just talk the talk, walk the walk. Do what you say you are going to do, not just sometimes but all the time. This builds trust, not just for today but for years to come.